Mindset Management... Make it your New Years' Resolution

Though it may sound a little ‘fluffy’ for some entrepreneurs, managing your mindset is hugely important in coping with the day-to-day challenges of self-employment. Unproductive or negative, catastrophic thinking doesn’t promote growth or development and instead stymies your progress.

Here are three key pointers to help keep your mindset in check:

1. Be conscious

Know what you’re thinking – don’t allow background ‘noise’ – if you’re having a ‘down’ day, it’s probably because your thoughts aren’t of the most positive variety. Feeling negative? Ask yourself why – tease out those thoughts and deal with them.

2. Write it down

Whatever’s bothering you – write it down. Is it that bad? Remember, there’s a solution or options in dealing with whatever it is. Don’t run away from it.

3. Test the reality

Is this issue really possible? Have you left it to fester for so long that it seems insurmountable? Give yourself a ‘worst-case-scenario’ and remind yourself that even that can be dealt with efficiently. How do you feel now?

Remember that you are responsible for how you feel – things happen around us however it’s how we deal with them that directly impacts our mood – in turn our mood impacts how well we cope. Be mindset savvy!

Marketing Online - Get the Know-How

Popular business commentary would have it that absolutely everyone should have some sort of presence online...

There is a definite truth in the philosophy, however no business should venture into the online 'realm' without a plan.

Think about it this way: would you put an advert in a paper without first looking at its content?

I am afraid that some of you may answer 'yes' to that question, in which case, you should a) wise up, b) contact me or c) do both.

For those sane people who would review copy and content - phew - there was a reason for that analogy. Going blinkered into any marketing forum is not a good idea; you must know your stuff. By this, I mean it is important to have a 'mini' strategy for your foray into online-land.

Websites, social media pages and Google campaigns should all be created with the following in mind:

1. Who do we want to reach? (Audience)
2. What do we want to tell them? (Messaging / Content)
3. What's the purpose of our message? (Call to action - objective)

For more information on the marketing planning services IBI offer - email us.

Your Consultant: Finding the Right Combination

SMEs frequently reach flash-points, or impasses where they require expertise not within their own remit. Don't panic! This is part of the entrepreneurial life-cycle.

What should you do? Simple: look at your area of shortfall.

Are you about to launch a new product-line? Feel your business needs a marketing / branding face-lift? Look at what you need, what specialisms you require and go on the look-out.

Needless to say, there is an abundance of consultants available to every business, however, you will know (it's instinct, believe me!) whether you can work with someone after the first meeting.

Every consultant has a different methodology or way of working - find the one that works for you.

Finally - there are three key attributes your consultant should exhibit:

• Attention to your ideas and implementation;
• Listens to you and answers your questions;
• Keeps you in check: ensures you stick to your actions and commitments.

Feedback please!

Hello blog fans!

Firstly, I must explain why I haven't written a blog in two weeks... well, it's because I've been... really busy! Yippee!

Tomorrow marks, more or less, end of week ten for Irish Business Intelligence and it has been an interesting trip thus far. We've had a decent drip-feed of consultancy business and I now look to the next arm of our portfolio, in the area of building associations, and providing training.

Thanks to some very kind suggestions from colleagues in the various enterprise-related organisations, I am gradually collecting names of people and businesses who may provide positive associations (however I am open to hearing from others also!). The rationale behind this is simply that by building associations with complimentary businesses, we can collectively work to secure and develop more business.

Now... I have three questions I would like to put to all of you in business, entrepreneurs or SME-owners:

1. What are your top five biggest challenges every day?
2. What, do you think, would help you overcome them?
3. How would you like to receive this help?

I'd really appreciate honest feedback on this folks, it's completely confidential and you can simply email it through to me (olwen@irishbusinessintelligence.com), tweet it (@IrishBizIntel) or comment below. By answering these questions, you're helping me to examine the current (broad) needs of businesses, and in so-doing, help provide some answers!

Until next time...

What's your story? PR-ing your SME

There is a common SME misconception that a) PR = Advertising, and sometimes b) PR = waste of time. OK; I'll concede one point, which is that PR when you don't know what you're doing is a waste of time.

Firstly, PR does not = advertising. Advertising is part of your marketing strategy which can include PR also, but they are not one and the same.

Some would say that positive PR coverage is better for sales than advertising; for what it's worth I would recommend (if you have the spend) having a strong and cohesive PR and Marketing plan which includes a varied mix of media.

However, very few small businesses have access to a large PR/Marketing budget, so creativity is key in getting their business in the media.

Why is it important to PR your SME? Put simply - if you don't, you can lose out hugely. Think of the companies you recognise most - those who stand out from the crowd - apart from their brand and marketing, what else do they do that keeps you interested in them?

They tell their story all the time.

A new product, successes, staff stories... pretty much anything that will attract attention. Plus, they are creative. Depending on their industry or business style, successfully PR'd businesses come up with witty, fun, attractive and engaging ways to tell their story.

Do you know what your story is?

What's all the fuss about Internal Comms?

Internal Communications is not one singular item. It's a combination of various different mechanisms which link together (nice tie-in to photo above!) - the ultimate aim being how you tell people what you are doing ... and in the case of staff, why and how you are doing it and how it affects them.

This may sound a little convoluted, but bear in mind that communication impacts our business directly everyday, and furthermore, if you don't get it right, there can be huge costs involved.

Communication tells our employees what we expect of them, and what our business stands for. It's a cultural landmark in business as it sets the tone and expectation for employees as well as other stakeholders.

To discuss all the elements of Internal Comms, we would need more than a blog, however bear this in mind: how your business communicates is defined entirely by your business's identity and, moreover, its strategy. How you communicate must reflect your strategy and vice-versa, if they jar, you will have problems.

Most of all, it's extremely important to remember that consistency is key.

If you offer coffee at your staff meetings, you'll always have to... and if you decide to stop, remember, you need to communicate why!

Believers are definitely Achievers!

Hello loyal blog-readers!

I'm afraid it has been just over a month since my last post and I do feel most remiss in not writing for so long.

On Friday I attended the Network Ireland conference in Galway; it was truly inspiring. Not only because of its calibre and content (including fantastic speakers such as Veronica Canning, Deirdre Bounds and Jack Black... plus the inimitable Senator David Norris), but the innovative, brave, fascinating people I met.

As so many of the speakers on the day commented, it is a hard time to remain motivated and positive, with non-stop negative news saturation, and the heightening feeling of frustration towards our current government. There are few antidotes as effective as the indefatigable force of human spirit in times like these, and I, for one, am thoroughly delighted to have had access to a plethora of it in the last few days and weeks.

Until next time...